The male blackcap continues to visit the garden mealworm feeder on a regular basis. Now going into it's ninth week. Other regulars still being house sparrows although numbers have dropped to around 20/25 - usually more male birds. Blackbirds numbering on average 6 birds.
Long tailed tit, blue tit, great tit and coal tit are daily visitors with the longies now just turning up in pairs rather than a little flock of a dozen or so several weeks ago.
A pair of chaffinch visited briefly for about a week - a little bit of a rarity for the garden. Goldfinch turned up on the sunflower feeders - maximum of 3 birds which was nice to witness as they generally visit neighbour,s gardens rather than ours. Another welcome visitor was a lone nuthatch that was around for a couple of days during the end of February.
steven burke said
Sun Mar 10 11:08 AM, 2019
Female blackcap in my old trafford garden this morning. 40+ goldfinch 2 great tits 2 blue tits 1 coal tit 1 starling
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Mar 8 8:57 PM, 2019
One, possibly two bramblings around lunch time, and a couple of redpoll were back.
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Mar 7 8:56 PM, 2019
Return of a brambling (not the one seen on the 1st of the month) today, but no redpoll for the first time in a while. Strange on a day like today was.
John Rayner said
Mon Mar 4 7:48 PM, 2019
Female Blackcap still in the garden (Hazel Grove). First seen 1st February.
Cheers John.
Carl Fletcher-Poole said
Mon Mar 4 2:27 PM, 2019
Spent an hour earlier in my Boothstown garden with my camera (pics attached) Siskins x 6 one ringed (see picture Steve Christmas) Lesser Redpolls x 12, Greenfinch x 6, Chaffinch x15, Goldfinch x 23, Coal tit x 2 Blue tit x 6 Great tit x 5, Dunnock x4 and house sparrows 30+. Great hour it was
Curlew calling,then into song,over my Bury garden,today 0645. Such joy.
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Mar 1 10:17 PM, 2019
A new Winter high of 5 redpoll today, and the brambling I thought I saw yesterday was confirmed. 3 greenfinches was a good count for this Winter too.
sid ashton said
Fri Mar 1 8:59 PM, 2019
Had a Coal Tit around our Hale garden pond today - don't recall seeing one previously, so a new a garden tick for us!!
Ian Campbell said
Fri Mar 1 3:38 PM, 2019
2 Curlew over my garden 1 hour ago heading NE, a new garden tick !. Cheers Ian
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Feb 28 8:52 PM, 2019
Some compensation for the loss (hopefully temporary) of insects. 3 redpoll, 1 siskin and almost certainly a brambling were seen on and around the feeders. Next best were long-tailed tit and nuthatch which actually took something from a feeder, the first to do so since about last November!
Richard Thew said
Wed Feb 27 10:51 PM, 2019
No sign of my Grey wagtail over the last couple of days in my Radcliffe garden. His last visit was an all-day visit, as if he wanted to say "goodbye and thankyou" before departing to his breeding territory. Who knows, he could be back next winter!!
Other news, a pair of Robins are nest building in our garden, only this time they are not tame in the slightest - that could change if they become successful. Also our blackbirds are being more active around the shrubby areas of the garden as well are our dunnocks. A goldcrest is becoming more active in song in recent days too.
Finally, a male bullfinch was inspecting a conifer type shrub, but doesn't look like anything amounted on that and there was a brief visit of a jackdaw on our roof.
I must admit, 3 lesser redpoll short visits and the grey wagtail was the only main interst this winter (aside from the usual) as compared to last winter- it's been fairly quiet here!
Ta!
Richard Thew said
Thu Feb 21 3:37 PM, 2019
3 lesser redpolls visited my Radcliffe garden. Also noteworthy is the grey wagtail has still been seen daily but now that we're close to spring - as expected he isn't as frequent and is now more unreliable asto when he turns up (some days only once). Also I've had 2 long tailed tits feeding from my mealworm feeder and on occasion a goldcrest has been about mostly singing around our next door neighbours. Ta!
Carl Fletcher-Poole said
Thu Feb 21 3:13 PM, 2019
They are back. Six Siskins feeding in my garden in Boothstown, Worsley (see picture) Thought they might not turn up with all the desolation going on with the RHS monstrosity they are building. So much habitat destroyed its criminal.
All the birds that have made this Winter quite interesting were seen on (or below) the feeders today, viz; siskin 1/2, redpoll 4, brambling, bullfinch pair, greenfinch, goldfinches and chaffinches. In the afternoon, a sparrowhawk flew low through the estate a few meters in front of the house but failed to bag anything.
Andy Bissitt said
Mon Feb 18 9:40 PM, 2019
4 redpoll were a new 'high' for this Winter. Also pair of bullfinches, and song thrush 'returned' after going missing for about a week. Still had brambling up until yesterday.
Nev Wright said
Mon Feb 18 9:15 PM, 2019
Pair of Tawny Owls calling 2100hrs in my Sale garden. Then moved out over towards Timperley. At last another positive record for the BTO survey!
fredford said
Mon Feb 18 11:39 AM, 2019
Amazing scenes just over the wall of my Bury garden, but still in Bury. Sparrowhawk attacks a rook which is feeding on the gruond. Rook screeches and struggles and other rooks join in. Rook gets free and flies off, other rooks mob sparrowhawk. Despite this sprawk chases rook and attacks, unsuccessfully, twice more,in the air,all the while mobbed by rooks. Sprawk gives up and flies away, pursued by rooks.
Carl Fletcher-Poole said
Sun Feb 17 4:10 PM, 2019
A first in my garden. 6 Lesser Redpolls in Boothstown, Worsley on my feeders. What a sight see pics
After a few days away from home I am happy to report the male Blackcap is still around.
Mark Walsh said
Sat Feb 9 12:48 PM, 2019
2 Female Blackcaps and still the odd Siskin hanging about.
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Feb 8 9:09 PM, 2019
Quietest day this side of New Year, but still had new high for this winter of 6 siskins on feeders. Next best were brambling and a pair of bullfinch.
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Feb 5 8:51 PM, 2019
All the 'usuals' seen over last two days - brambling, siskin, redpoll (2), bullfinch (pair), greenfinch (2), and 2 song thrushes for only the second time. Looks like anything new is not going to come this Winter now.
John Rayner said
Tue Feb 5 1:48 PM, 2019
Hazel Grove: The female Blackcap visited the garden for the 5th day running
Cheers, John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Tuesday 5th of February 2019 01:48:57 PM
BREAKING NEWS! I've just heard a waxwing calling by my Radcliffe garden heading towards Elton Reservoir.
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Sun Feb 3 4:02 PM, 2019
A new record of 10 Reed Buntings in my Flixton garden.
Clive Part said
Sun Feb 3 9:03 AM, 2019
A male Blackcap feeding on apples in my Timperley garden for the third day running this morning
John Rayner said
Fri Feb 1 2:02 PM, 2019
A female Blackcap in my Hazel Grove garden this afternoon feeding on apples. First one this winter period. Also a single Lesser Redpoll.
Cheers John
steven burke said
Fri Feb 1 10:26 AM, 2019
I woke up this morning to the sound of noisy ring-necked parakeets, there was 9 flying around, not sure if they had just been on my feeders in my old trafford garden but when I looked at the feeders there was just the one. 4 have been rugular all week. 15 goldfinch 4 blackbirds 1 Robin 2 blue tits
Tony Koziol said
Thu Jan 31 9:15 PM, 2019
Blackcap continues to visit the mealworm feeder every day of this week.
Other birds:
Starling c. 25
House Sparrow c. 30
Blackbird x 11 (6 males)
Blue Tit x 3
Great Tit x 1
Long Tailed Tit x 3
Cole Tit x 2
Wood Pigeon x 4
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jay
Robin
Dunnock x 2
Goldfinch x 8
Blackheaded Gull (fly over)
Nuthatch x 1 (this is a new bird to the garden)
Andy Bissitt said
Wed Jan 30 8:24 PM, 2019
Lost two species today (jay and magpie) but gained siskin, with 2 being only the second record so far this Winter. Unfortunately one had a badly broken leg which stuck out at right angles to its body. Probably 2 redpoll today, and brambling continue to be seen. Other birds seen from garden were cormorant and a calling great black-backed gull late in the afternoon.
Go out on a day like today? Why would I with 20 species seen in the garden (back and front)! Best (in no particular order), pair of bullfinches (first seen yesterday), 1 redpoll, 2 brambling (male & female) at same time just six feet from window, 25+ goldfinches, first nuthatch since the Autumn, song thrush, jay, magpie (rare in garden), 2/3 greenfinches, 8+ chaffinches. Will be a hard number to top this Winter.
Pete Hines said
Sun Jan 27 8:53 PM, 2019
The Willow Tit (from 25th) was singing in my Chorlton garden again this morning (though remained unseen) so I did a count. 18 species recorded 08.40-09.40.
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Sunday 27th of January 2019 08:54:35 PM
Richard Thew said
Sun Jan 27 3:36 PM, 2019
Breaking news! Lesser redpoll male finally seen on my radcliffe garden feeders....
This weeks full garden birdwatch peak numbers....
Sparrowhawk 1 Wood pigeon 2 Collard dove 2 Grey wagtail 1 Blackbird 4 Mistle thrush 1 Robin 2 Dunnock 3 Blue tit 2 Coal tit 2 Great tit 2 Long tailed tit 8 Wren 1 Goldcrest 1 Starling 14 House sparrow 4 Crow 1 Magpie 1 Chaffinch 2 Greenfinch 2 Goldfinch 26 Lesser redpoll 1
RSPB big garden birdwatch this morning.Stockport garden, 10-11 am,sunny spells,very blustery NW wind,results as follows:
Goldfinch 14
Bullfinch 3 (2m 1f)
Chaffinch 1 (f)
Greenfinch 1 (m)
Blackbird 4 (3m 1f)
Dunnock 2
Great Tit 3
Blue Tit 2
Coal Tit 1
Jay 1
Grey Wagtail 1
Cheers Chris
Chris Porter said
Sun Jan 27 2:27 PM, 2019
Big garden bird watch in Firswood. As usual I got up late and chose a quiet hour, with some of my favourite regulars doing a disappearing act (like coal tit, long-tailed tit, wren and goldcrest), but not too bad in the end and my six-year old daughter enjoyed taking part;
- Male Blackcap (has been a regular for last month or so - not seen any female companion) - Blue Tits (they seem particularly aggressive against coal tits, long-tailed tits and goldcrest) - Dunnocks - Wood Pigeon - House Sparrows - Robin - Magpie - Feral Pigeons
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 27th of January 2019 02:28:34 PM
Nick Hilton said
Sat Jan 26 9:56 PM, 2019
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch for me this morning in Davyhulme. 16 Species wasn't bad but actual numbers of birds was low. Highlight was the local Coal Tit which left it late + 2 sausage barms and a big mug of tea! No Ring-necked Parakeets today.
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Jan 26 9:23 PM, 2019
RSPB Big garden bird watch today, and I managed to get brambling on my list for the first time. Typically, everyday birds like coal tit and collared dove failed to show until after the hour had gone. Also showing later was a redpoll, first seen yesterday, and my first this Winter.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 27th of January 2019 02:29:00 PM
Richard Thew said
Sat Jan 26 2:06 PM, 2019
Oh wow, I've just had a raven flying over my Radcliffe garden about tree top hight. Very impressive to see and croaking as he went. It was one of those occasions where I wish I had my camera. Ta!
Pete Hines said
Fri Jan 25 2:20 PM, 2019
Willow Tit 1 singing in my Chorlton M219JF garden 14.10
Tony Koziol said
Thu Jan 24 8:41 PM, 2019
The male Blackcap has been with us all week at different times of the day, 08.10 being earliest and 16.25 the latest visits. Due to mealworms being available all day this has led to about forty House Sparrow being around along with a flock of around 30 Starling appearing on Wednesday.
This higher influx means that over 4lb of mealworm, 3lb of sunflower hearts along with larger amounts of mixed seed and suet balls are being used over the week to keep up with the ever increasing beak numbers,
Other birds observed through the week:
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Magpie
Jay
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Robin
Dunnock
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch
Black Headed Gull (over)
Sparrowhawk (f)
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Thu Jan 24 4:29 PM, 2019
2 firsts for my Flixton garden this winter.
A male Blackcap eating lard smeared on a tree, then a Mistle Thrush having a butty. 2 Nuthatches and a pair of Reed Buntings are regular.
steven burke said
Thu Jan 24 2:57 PM, 2019
4 ring-necked parakeets on my feeders when I came home from work this afternoon stopping all the goldfinch from coming down to feed. I went out to top up the feeders & the parakeets just sat in the tree watching me. Great spotted woodpecker still around.
steven burke said
Wed Jan 23 11:09 PM, 2019
Great spotted woodpecker was on my feeders eating sunflower hearts in my old trafford garden this afternoon. Grey heron flew low over yesterday.
Andy Bissitt said
Wed Jan 23 10:15 PM, 2019
Yesterday, a roving band of goldfinches joined the resident bunch of c15, making a mega-flock of 70+. About 30 came into the garden at the same time. Also 2 jays, song thrush etc... Was at Hope Carr today, so no count, but feeders cleaned out as per.
Simon Warford said
Sun Jan 20 9:43 PM, 2019
Update from our Bolton garden, the female Blackcap re-appeared a few days ago having last been seen in early December and she hasn't moved from the garden all weekend where she has been chasing as many of the other birds away as possible, including the male Blackcap which had been present daily up to yesterday.
A female Great Spotted Woodpecker visited the garden this morning.
Mark Walsh said
Sun Jan 20 3:40 PM, 2019
A large (for me) flock of just under 40 Goldfinch, its been around 20ish birds for the past couple of weeks so a sizable increase. Other species visiting my Stockport garden at the moment;
8 Greenfinch 5 Chaffinch 4 Bullfinch 2 Siskin and singles of Goldcrest and Blackcap (female)
The male blackcap continues to visit the garden mealworm feeder on a regular basis. Now going into it's ninth week. Other regulars still being house sparrows although numbers have dropped to around 20/25 - usually more male birds. Blackbirds numbering on average 6 birds.
Long tailed tit, blue tit, great tit and coal tit are daily visitors with the longies now just turning up in pairs rather than a little flock of a dozen or so several weeks ago.
A pair of chaffinch visited briefly for about a week - a little bit of a rarity for the garden. Goldfinch turned up on the sunflower feeders - maximum of 3 birds which was nice to witness as they generally visit neighbour,s gardens rather than ours. Another welcome visitor was a lone nuthatch that was around for a couple of days during the end of February.
40+ goldfinch
2 great tits
2 blue tits
1 coal tit
1 starling
One, possibly two bramblings around lunch time, and a couple of redpoll were back.
Return of a brambling (not the one seen on the 1st of the month) today, but no redpoll for the first time in a while. Strange on a day like today was.
Cheers John.
A new Winter high of 5 redpoll today, and the brambling I thought I saw yesterday was confirmed. 3 greenfinches was a good count for this Winter too.
Had a Coal Tit around our Hale garden pond today - don't recall seeing one previously, so a new a garden tick for us!!
Cheers Ian
Some compensation for the loss (hopefully temporary) of insects. 3 redpoll, 1 siskin and almost certainly a brambling were seen on and around the feeders. Next best were long-tailed tit and nuthatch which actually took something from a feeder, the first to do so since about last November!
His last visit was an all-day visit, as if he wanted to say "goodbye and thankyou" before departing to his breeding territory. Who knows, he could be back next winter!!
Other news, a pair of Robins are nest building in our garden, only this time they are not tame in the slightest - that could change if they become successful. Also our blackbirds are being more active around the shrubby areas of the garden as well are our dunnocks. A goldcrest is becoming more active in song in recent days too.
Finally, a male bullfinch was inspecting a conifer type shrub, but doesn't look like anything amounted on that and there was a brief visit of a jackdaw on our roof.
I must admit, 3 lesser redpoll short visits and the grey wagtail was the only main interst this winter (aside from the usual) as compared to last winter- it's been fairly quiet here!
Ta!
All the birds that have made this Winter quite interesting were seen on (or below) the feeders today, viz; siskin 1/2, redpoll 4, brambling, bullfinch pair, greenfinch, goldfinches and chaffinches. In the afternoon, a sparrowhawk flew low through the estate a few meters in front of the house but failed to bag anything.
4 redpoll were a new 'high' for this Winter. Also pair of bullfinches, and song thrush 'returned' after going missing for about a week. Still had brambling up until yesterday.
Pair of Tawny Owls calling 2100hrs in my Sale garden. Then moved out over towards Timperley. At last another positive record for the BTO survey!
I presume the pale tipped tertials and flight feathers make it a first winter bird. Is that right?
Cheers, John
After a few days away from home I am happy to report the male Blackcap is still around.
Quietest day this side of New Year, but still had new high for this winter of 6 siskins on feeders. Next best were brambling and a pair of bullfinch.
All the 'usuals' seen over last two days - brambling, siskin, redpoll (2), bullfinch (pair), greenfinch (2), and 2 song thrushes for only the second time. Looks like anything new is not going to come this Winter now.
Cheers, John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Tuesday 5th of February 2019 01:48:57 PM
Cheers John
15 goldfinch
4 blackbirds
1 Robin
2 blue tits
Blackcap continues to visit the mealworm feeder every day of this week.
Other birds:
Starling c. 25
House Sparrow c. 30
Blackbird x 11 (6 males)
Blue Tit x 3
Great Tit x 1
Long Tailed Tit x 3
Cole Tit x 2
Wood Pigeon x 4
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jay
Robin
Dunnock x 2
Goldfinch x 8
Blackheaded Gull (fly over)
Nuthatch x 1 (this is a new bird to the garden)
Lost two species today (jay and magpie) but gained siskin, with 2 being only the second record so far this Winter. Unfortunately one had a badly broken leg which stuck out at right angles to its body. Probably 2 redpoll today, and brambling continue to be seen. Other birds seen from garden were cormorant and a calling great black-backed gull late in the afternoon.
Go out on a day like today? Why would I with 20 species seen in the garden (back and front)! Best (in no particular order), pair of bullfinches (first seen yesterday), 1 redpoll, 2 brambling (male & female) at same time just six feet from window, 25+ goldfinches, first nuthatch since the Autumn, song thrush, jay, magpie (rare in garden), 2/3 greenfinches, 8+ chaffinches. Will be a hard number to top this Winter.
The Willow Tit (from 25th) was singing in my Chorlton garden again this morning (though remained unseen) so I did a count. 18 species recorded 08.40-09.40.
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Sunday 27th of January 2019 08:54:35 PM
This weeks full garden birdwatch peak numbers....
Sparrowhawk 1
Wood pigeon 2
Collard dove 2
Grey wagtail 1
Blackbird 4
Mistle thrush 1
Robin 2
Dunnock 3
Blue tit 2
Coal tit 2
Great tit 2
Long tailed tit 8
Wren 1
Goldcrest 1
Starling 14
House sparrow 4
Crow 1
Magpie 1
Chaffinch 2
Greenfinch 2
Goldfinch 26
Lesser redpoll 1
+flew over- Raven 1 flew over, cormorant, black headed gull 6, jackdaw,
(Shame but it would have been nice if I could also include the Dartford warbler from last night's dream! It seemed so real too)
Ta!
RSPB big garden birdwatch this morning.Stockport garden, 10-11 am,sunny spells,very blustery NW wind,results as follows:
Goldfinch 14
Bullfinch 3 (2m 1f)
Chaffinch 1 (f)
Greenfinch 1 (m)
Blackbird 4 (3m 1f)
Dunnock 2
Great Tit 3
Blue Tit 2
Coal Tit 1
Jay 1
Grey Wagtail 1
Cheers Chris
Big garden bird watch in Firswood. As usual I got up late and chose a quiet hour, with some of my favourite regulars doing a disappearing act (like coal tit, long-tailed tit, wren and goldcrest), but not too bad in the end and my six-year old daughter enjoyed taking part;
- Male Blackcap (has been a regular for last month or so - not seen any female companion)
- Blue Tits (they seem particularly aggressive against coal tits, long-tailed tits and goldcrest)
- Dunnocks
- Wood Pigeon
- House Sparrows
- Robin
- Magpie
- Feral Pigeons
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 27th of January 2019 02:28:34 PM
RSPB Big garden bird watch today, and I managed to get brambling on my list for the first time. Typically, everyday birds like coal tit and collared dove failed to show until after the hour had gone. Also showing later was a redpoll, first seen yesterday, and my first this Winter.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 27th of January 2019 02:29:00 PM
The male Blackcap has been with us all week at different times of the day, 08.10 being earliest and 16.25 the latest visits. Due to mealworms being available all day this has led to about forty House Sparrow being around along with a flock of around 30 Starling appearing on Wednesday.
This higher influx means that over 4lb of mealworm, 3lb of sunflower hearts along with larger amounts of mixed seed and suet balls are being used over the week to keep up with the ever increasing beak numbers,
Other birds observed through the week:
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Magpie
Jay
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Robin
Dunnock
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch
Black Headed Gull (over)
Sparrowhawk (f)
A male Blackcap eating lard smeared on a tree, then a Mistle Thrush having a butty.
2 Nuthatches and a pair of Reed Buntings are regular.
Great spotted woodpecker still around.
Grey heron flew low over yesterday.
Yesterday, a roving band of goldfinches joined the resident bunch of c15, making a mega-flock of 70+. About 30 came into the garden at the same time. Also 2 jays, song thrush etc... Was at Hope Carr today, so no count, but feeders cleaned out as per.
8 Greenfinch
5 Chaffinch
4 Bullfinch
2 Siskin
and singles of Goldcrest and Blackcap (female)
Cheers
Mark